Aggregation of file/directory structures

• US 8,140,474 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Hady, Frank, Traw, Brendan, Carroll, John W
• Primary Examiner(s): LIANG, VEI CHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/900,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/621
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1847 specifically adapted to static storage, e.g. adapted to flash memory or SSD

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes storing a superset of data available to a client having non volatile memory (NVM) on a distant hard drive. A subset of the data is maintained in the NVM on the client. The client controls the data stored on the distant hard drive and the data maintained in the NVM. A single merged directory/file tree image is generated for the content maintained in the NVM and the distant hard drive that is accessible to a user of the client and applications running thereon.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a first interface to enable a user to obtain content;

a second interface to communicate with remote storage; and

a processor-readable storage medium to store the content and processor executable instructions, which when the processor executable instructions are executed by the processor cause the processor to;

create a first directory/file structure for the content obtained by the user and stored in the processor-readable storage medium;

as dictated by limited storage capability of the processor-readable storage medium, discard a portion of the content stored therein and only maintain a subset of the content as a first dataset, wherein the first dataset has a second directory/file structure that is a subset of the first directory/file structure;

when the apparatus and the remote storage are connected, copy the content not included in the remote storage from the processor-readable storage medium to the remote storage, wherein the remote storage simply stores the content based on instructions from the apparatus and does not require a server to manage memory allocation between the apparatus and the remote storage, wherein the remote storage maintains all content copied thereto as a second dataset, wherein the second dataset includes all content subsequently discarded from the processor-readable storage medium and not included in the first dataset, wherein the second dataset has a third directory/file structure, and wherein the third directory/file structure and the second directory/file structure overlap;

generate a single merged directory/file structure from the third directory/file structure and the second directory/file structure that merges portions of the third directory/file structure that overlap the second directory/file structure, wherein the single merged directory/file structure does not actually exist as the content presented as being from a single location is contained in the processor-readable storage medium and the remote storage; and

present the single merged directory/file structure to a user of the apparatus and applications running thereon.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to identify on the single merged directory/file structure the first dataset that are available when the apparatus and the remote storage are not connected.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to identify on the single merged directory/file structure a portion of the second dataset not included in the first dataset and not available to the apparatus when the apparatus and the remote storage are not connected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to delete a portion of the first dataset based on heuristics when additional storage is needed in the processor-readable storage medium for new content.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to update the single merged directory/file structure to reflect the content added to and deleted from the first dataset.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to identify on the single merged directory/file structure new content added to the first dataset that has not been copied to the remote storage and thus is not included in the second dataset.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to copy content that was modified in the first dataset to the remote storage to overwrite the content in the second dataset with the modified content when the apparatus and the remote storage are connected.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to adjust the content maintained in the first dataset based on heuristics when the apparatus and the remote storage are connected.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote storage includes a plurality of remote storage units and when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions cause the processor to copy the content not included in the plurality of remote storage units from the processor-readable storage medium to the plurality of remote storage units, wherein each of the plurality of remote storage units maintains a portion of the second dataset, and wherein each portion of the second dataset has an associated portion of the third directory/file structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to generate the third directory/file structure by aggregating the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of remote storage units, wherein the third directory/file structure does not actually exist as the content presented as being from a single location is contained over the plurality of remote storage units.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the content contained in the second dataset is redundantly maintained in the plurality of remote storage units, wherein the portions of the second dataset and the associated portion of the third directory/file structure in the plurality of remote storage units overlap, and wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to generate the third directory/file structure by aggregating the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of remote storage units and merging overlapping portions, wherein the third directory/file structure does not actually exist as the content presented as being from a single location is contained over the plurality of remote storage units.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to create a virtual directory/file structure for the second dataset based on parameters about the content rather than location of the content within directories as defined in the third directory/file structure, wherein the parameters about the content are obtained from some subset of the content, data within the content, metadata associated with the content, or files associated with the content.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to aggregate the virtual directory/file structure and the single merged directory/file structure to create a unified directory/file structure.

14. A system comprising

a portable device having a processor, a user interface to obtain content, and a processor-readable storage medium to store content and processor executable instructions;

and

remote storage connectable to the portable device,

wherein when the processor executable instructions are executed by the processor they cause the processor to;

create a first directory/file structure for the content obtained by the user and stored in the processor-readable storage medium;

when necessary based on limited storage capability of the processor-readable storage medium, delete a portion of the content stored therein and only maintain a subset of the content as a first dataset, wherein the first dataset has a second directory/file structure that is a subset of the first directory/file structure;

when the portable device and the remote storage are connected, copy the content not included in the remote storage from the processor-readable storage medium to the remote storage, wherein the remote storage simply stores the content based on instructions from the portable device and does not require a server to manage memory allocation between the portable device and the remote storage, wherein the remote storage maintains all content copied thereto as a second dataset, wherein the second dataset includes all content subsequently deleted from the processor-readable storage medium and not included in the first dataset, wherein the second dataset has a third directory/file structure, and wherein the third directory/file structure and the second directory/file structure overlap;

generate a single merged directory/file structure from the third directory/file structure and the second directory/file structure that merges portions of the third directory/file structure that overlap the second directory/file structure, wherein the single merged directory/file structure does not actually exist as the content presented as being from a single location is contained in the processor-readable storage medium and the remote storage; and

present the single merged directory/file structure on the user interface.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote storage includes a plurality of networked storage units and when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions cause the processor to copy the content not included in the plurality of networked storage units from the processor-readable storage medium to the plurality of networked storage units, wherein each of the plurality of networked storage units maintains a portion of the second dataset, and wherein each portion of the second dataset has an associated portion of the third directory/file structure.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of networked storage units are networked to a computer and the computer is to aggregate the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units and merge any overlaps in the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units to generate the third directory/file structure and share the third directory/file structure with the portable device, wherein the third directory/file structure does not actually exist as the content presented as being from a single location is contained over the plurality of networked storage units.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to create a virtual directory/file structure for the second dataset based on parameters about the content rather than location of the content within directories as defined in the third directory/file structure, wherein the parameters about the content are obtained from some subset of the content, data within the content, metadata associated with the content, or files associated with the content.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to aggregate the virtual directory/file structure and the single merged directory/file structure to create a unified directory/file structure.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the portable device includes a plurality of portable devices each containing a portion of the first dataset and each copying their portion of the first dataset to the remote storage, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices are able to access the second dataset when connected to the remote storage even if some of the content within the second dataset was never stored therein.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the portable device includes a plurality of portable devices each maintaining a portion of the first dataset and having an associated portion of the second directory/file structure, wherein the remote storage includes a plurality of networked storage units each maintaining a portion of the second dataset and having an associated portion of the third directory/file structure, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices copy the portion of the first dataset maintained therein to some subset of the plurality of networked storage units, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices are able to access the second dataset when connected to the plurality of networked storage units even if some of the content within the second dataset was never stored therein.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of networked storage units are networked to a computer and the computer is to aggregate the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units and merge any overlaps in the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units to generate the third directory/file structure and share the third directory/file structure with the plurality of portable devices, wherein the plurality of portable devices identify on the single merged directory/file structure which content will be available thereto when the portable device is not connected to the plurality of networked storage units.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of portable devices is to aggregate the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units and merge any overlaps in the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units to generate the third directory/file structure, and wherein the third directory/file structure is same for each of the plurality of portable devices.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein one of the plurality of portable devices is to aggregate the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units and merge any overlaps in the portions of the third directory/file structure associated with each of the plurality of networked storage units to generate the third directory/file structure, and share the third directory/file structure with other of the plurality of portable devices.

24. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a user interface;

communications link to a content storage medium, wherein the remote storage medium includes a first dataset having a first directory/file structure and a second dataset having a second directory/file structure; and

a processor-readable storage medium to store content and processor executable instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

create a third directory/file structure for the content obtained by the user and stored in the processor-readable storage medium;

when necessary based on limited storage capability of the processor-readable storage medium, delete a portion of the content stored therein and only maintain a subset of the content as a third dataset, wherein the third dataset has a fourth directory/file structure that is a subset of the third directory/file structure;

when the apparatus and the remote storage medium are connected, copy the content not included in the remote storage medium from the processor-readable storage medium to the remote storage medium, wherein the remote storage medium simply stores the content based on instructions from the apparatus and does not require a server to manage memory allocation therebetween, wherein the remote storage medium maintains all content copied thereto as the first dataset, wherein the first dataset includes all content subsequently deleted from the processor-readable storage medium and not included in the third dataset, wherein the first dataset has the first directory/file structure, and wherein the first directory/file structure and the fourth directory/file structure overlap;

aggregate the first directory/file structure and the second directory/file structure to create a single location based directory/file structure;

create a virtual directory/file structure for content contained within the single location based directory/file structure based on parameters about the content rather than location of the content, wherein the parameters about the content are obtained from some subset of the content, data within the content, metadata associated with the content, or files associated with the content; and

present the virtual directory/file structure to users via the user interface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, which when executed by the processor the processor executable instructions further cause the processor to

aggregate the virtual directory/file structure and the single location based directory/file structure to create a unified directory/file structure;

and

present the unified directory/file structure to the users via the user interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the remote storage medium is included in a networked device and the apparatus shares the virtual directory/file structure with the networked device.